FRESH PAINT: HISTORIC VIEWS, NEW PERSPECTIVES Drawing on the "wet paint" event tradition, artists and photographers are invited to create new works of art that capture the views and scenery of the region that the White Mountain School of Art members painted during the late 1800's and early 1900's. Sponsored by The Mt Washington Valley Arts Association (MWVAA), registered artists will have between July 18 and August 16 to create up to two pieces of artwork. Fresh Paint is open to MWVAA members and non-member regional artists, and all mediums are welcome. Two important dates make up this event: August 9: Plein Air "Paint Out." Artists who are registered for the event will be asked to set up their easels at their chosen site and post an "Artist at Work" sign that will promote the event. A map will be created showing where artists are likely to be found. This is a chance for the public to see the artistic process at work, and for artists to promote their work in a "live" setting. August 16: Live Art Auction at Cranmore Resort, 6:00pm - 8:00pm. The culminating event of "Fresh Paint" will include a live auction of participating artists' work, as well as live music, hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar and an opportunity to mix and mingle with both the artists and other art appreciators. Admission to the event is $25 per person, with proceeds supporting the MWVAA. Artists will receive 60% commission on all sales with minimum bids being posted; 40% will go to MWVAA as part of this fundraiser. For registration form and details, visitmwvartsor call 603-356-ARTS (2787).

SEPTEMBER IS GOING TO THE DOGS IN MT WASHINGTON VALLEY Three wonderful events pay tribute to the Dog Days of Summer in Mt Washington Valley. Carroll County Kennel Club 65th & 66th All-Breed Dog Shows and Obedience Trials- Dogs and their owners will take to Hussey Field in North Conway Sept 6 - 7 for what has become one of New England's oldest and most respected dog shows. There's plenty of food for all and vendors on site. This is a great spectator event for those looking to learn more about breeds that make great pets. Info: 207-697-2353, infodog.

Dog Daze Express at Conway Scenic Railroad - September 13 is a special day for dogs. Bring your favorite dog, exchange dog stories and take a ride with man's best friend. Departures are to Conway at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.; Bartlett departures are at 11:30 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. For those passengers that do not have pets or prefer not to ride with mans' best friend, an animal-free coach will be provided. Info: 603-356-5251 or Conway Scenic.

Bark in the Park Pet Expo in Schouler Park North Conway - Enjoy Northern New England's largest pet expo in Schouler Park to benefit the Conway Area Humane Society on September 13. There are pet parades, costume contest, obstacle courses, demonstrations, training and a variety of pet supplies and food vendors. Info: 603-447-5955 or Conway Shelter

Wildcat Mountain Opens New Lift-Serviced, 9-Hole Alpine Disc Golf Course Along with the thrilling sounds of people flying Wildcat Mountain on the new ZipRider, the quiet breathtaking moments of scenery and summit views via the Wildcat Express scenic gondola. You can now see and hear colored discs in flight toward a curious looking metal basket playing disc golf. Unlike traditional golf, disc golf is played using a flying disc or FrisbeeŽ but shares the same challenge of completing each hole using the fewest number of throws (or strokes) from a starting area (or tee) to reach and have your disc land in an elevated basket (or target). After a short chairlift ride players will progress down designated fairways such as the Cheetah, Snowcat Slope, or Wild Kitten trails. Players will make each consecutive shot from the spot where the previous throw landed. The natural terrain, elevation changes, trees, and target locations can be challenging obstacles for the golfer. Cost to play the new course is $15 per person including a lift ticket and a three-disc rental set comprised of driver, mid-range, and putter discs. Cost for players who bring their own disc(s) is only $10. For more information, visit skiwildcat.com or call 1-888-SKI-WILD (888-754-9453).

33rd World Championships of Mud Football in North Conway - Often called the cleanest sport played in knee deep mud, Mud Bowl splashes off at North Conway's world renowned Hog Coliseum Sept 5-7, 2008. Now in its 33rd year, with a "Mudmerican Bandstand" theme, the colorful 13-game, double elimination mud football extravaganza includes three days of exciting football action, culminating with the championship Sunday afternoon. The weekend of fun includes double elimination competition, followed by zany halftime events, cheerleader competitions, raffle prizes and much more. The Mud Bowl Ball will be held at Tuckerman's Restaurant & Tavern located at New England Inn Saturday evening, Sept. 6. It's good clean family fun in knee deep mud. The family oriented event benefits local charities with more than $400, 000 having been raised over the years. Advance tickets are available at Hannaford, North Conway; the North Conway Community Center, North Conway Day Care, and the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce. Info: 603-356-5213 or 1-800-367-3364.

FIELDS ON THE SACO" COMBINES THE BEST IN ARTFULLY PREPARED LOCAL CUISINE WITH FARMS & ARTISTS Take two neighboring New Hampshire and Maine farms and combine them with an award-winning chef and Mt Washington Valley's green team, and what results is a fabulous five course meal and event held in the fields on the Saco River. Mark the calendar for September 6 for the "Fields on the Saco" a very special event honoring the land, family tradition and your discriminating taste. Presented by Maine's Weston's Farm, and New Hampshire's Sherman Farm, along with Executive Chef Bryant Alden of Chef's Market, and the Mt. Washington Valley Preservation Association, on this night alone everything that touches your taste buds during an extraordinary meal will have been raised in the fertile ground of two bordering family farms in Maine and New Hampshire. But there is more than a distinctive meal; in keeping with the Slow Food movement developing in Mt Washington Valley, there will be guided farm tours, farm stores filled with foods, flowers and locally made products, Maine's distinctive Cold River Vodka , a corn maize, local artisan demonstrations, a "Wet Art" sale (wet art refers to artworks created on site), live music and an auction. The event will support Mt Washington Valley's Green Team's efforts to engage Mt Washington Valley residents and businesses in adopting eco-friendly practices to reduce their environmental impact, and the White Mountain Community Health Center's food pantry.

Participants will be treated to a five course meal, set on the fields from whence the food came. Each person will be offered a handmade plate made by local potter Becca Van Fleet and locally made napkins, plus other take home gifts. The menu, accompanied by perfectly paired wines and Maine Cold River vodka, will be artfully presented by Chef Bryant Alden and wife Patti, owners of the Chef's Market of North Conway. This chef-team understands the extraordinary advantage that locally grown and carefully handled food can bring to a culinary experience. Tickets are $195 per person, and limited to the first 100 people. The rain location will be the historic Agriculture Barn used at the Fryeburg Fair, the oldest agricultural fair in the United States. For more information, visit MWVCC. To reserve a seat at this unique event, call Janet at 1-800-DO-SEE-NH (800-367-3364) or locally at 603-356-5701.

Family BBQs at Eagle Mountain House Don't miss Eagle Mountain House's Family Bar-B-Q on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 5:30 pm-7:30pm throughout August. The "All You Can Eat" buffet includes ribs, chicken, burgers, salads, lots of other family-filling fixings, plus lemonade and S'Mores for dessert. Value conscious parents love the price, $13.95 for adults and $5.95 for kids 12 and under. Kids love all the kid-friendly fare along with face painting and games too. Reservations recommended. For more information, visit Eagle Mt or call 603-383-9111.

Sausage Making from Scratch, Corn Husk Dolls, and Meet & Greet Ambassador Sheep, Zoe & Clara Come to the Cranmore Mountain Lodge August 28, 11am - 4pm for an Open House program with staff from the Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm. Adults and children will enjoy three historic, hands-on activities. Learn how to grind and season the meat then stuff the casings to make your own sausages. Make your own corn husk doll by learning to fold the wet corn husks into a miniature person. Use yarn to make hair and accessories. Come pet real live sister sheep, Zoe and Clara, who are Ambassador Animals from Remick Farm. The fee is $5 per person, and includes all three activities. One dollar from the fee will be donated to the Eastern Slope Ski Club Athlete Scholarship Fund. For more information on the hands-on activities, call the Remick Museum at (603) 323- 7591 or visit www.remickmuseum.org or the Cranmore Mountain Lodge at (603) 356-2044 or Cranmore Mountain Lodge.

"Wednesdays at Wildcat" Wildcat Mountain and Tin Mountain Conservation Center are teaming up once again to continue the "Wednesdays at Wildcat" program this summer, combining family fun and education for free. Every Wednesday throughout July and August from 10:00am to 12:00noon, Wildcat will host Program topics that change weekly and range from the flora and fauna of the forest and fresh water ecosystems to those of the higher alpine environment, including wildflowers, mosses, waterfalls, frogs, and moose to the geology of the surrounding mountains and Presidential Range. "Wednesdays at Wildcat" runs through August 27th. Reservations are not required, and programs are geared for all ages. Meet at Guest Services in the Wildcat Base Lodge shortly before 10am. Admission is free, unless the tour requires a trip to the Summit. Round-trip Wildcat Express scenic gondola tickets can be purchased and are $15.00 for adults, $7.00 for children ages 6-12, $13.00 for seniors ages 65+, and ages 5 and under ride for free. Interpretive outdoor programs led by a naturalist from Tin Mountain Conservation Center add to the fun.

Subaru Science in the Mountains at Weather Discovery Center This summer the Mount Washington Observatory Weather Discovery Center will take you to scientific destinations far and wide. Using videoconferencing technology, you'll be connected with the interesting people doing interesting work in a number of scientific fields. On August 13, National Baseball Hall of Fame will be presented at 7pm. The science and burning questions about baseball will be answered including what do the red stitches on a baseball have to do with aerodynamics? Why do some hitters choke up at the bat? Why do some players wear batting gloves? You'll go to Cooperstown for all the answers. Free admission. Seating is limited, please arrive early. Refreshments will be served. Info: (800) 706-0432 or Mount Washington.

Mt Washington Valley Lodging Properties will Gas You Up! Lodging properties throughout Mt Washington Valley are inviting guests to "get gassed" with "gas aid" packages. Visit MWVCC and click on Vacation Specials for a host of special gas offers. Here is a sampling of some of the offers listed:

Buttonwood Inn: Now through September 10, 2008, stay three nights at the Buttonwood Inn and we'll deduct the cost of 6 gallons of gas from your bill. Stay four nights and we'll deduct 12 gallons. Stay 5 nights or longer and we'll deduct up to 20 gallons. At time of check-in, just show us your receipt and the discount will be applied. Cannot be redeemed for cash nor combined with other offers. Does not apply to Labor Day weekend. Rates start at $125/night.

Colonial Motel: Stay two or more nights and receive a $25 gas card through September 25, 2008. Rates start at $84 per night, double occupancy.